Fujairah bakeries told to follow rules

The municipality has ordered bakeries to follow new hygiene rules while delivering products in vans to supermarkets and groceries.

A source from the Public Health and Environment Department said the municipality has urged bakeries to take note of decree No. 9 for 1999 comprising eight articles. The articles stressed that bakeries must buy new vehicles which meet hygiene standards.

The source said: "To ensure safety, certain conditions should be met by workers. Hygiene standards should also be maintained in vehicles that carry bread, pastries, sandwiches, cakes, cookies and other products which are made of eggs, milk, cheese and meat which get spoilt if exposed to high heat and humidity."

He pointed out that after obtaining a licence from the Public Health and Environment Department, a baker's van must have insulators fitted which are at least 5 cm thick and must have suitable ventilation.

"The van's interior should be made of strong, soft, non-poisonous, fire-proof and easy-to-wash material with sufficient lighting and a hermetic door."

The source said vans that carry sandwiches, sweets, cakes and cream should be provided with fridges. These vans should be insulated against heat, with easy-to-wash interior roofs and have a thermometer to ensure that the temperature does not exceed 7 degrees Celsius.

Workers delivering these products should have health cards, wear special uniforms, clean the used and empty plastic containers periodically, not turn off fridges and not smoke in the vehicles.

Workers must not put products on the floor of the van. They must be placed at a height of at least 15 cm above the floor, away from the heat generated by the van's engine.

The Legal Affairs Department at the civic body must cooperate with the Traffic and Licensing Department and stop issuing or renewing these vans' licences unless owners get a no objection letter from the municipality saying the vehicles meet hygiene conditions.